Aerohydroplane.



E. F. GALLAUDET.

AEROHYDROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1914.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l' ll'n ven tor:

E. F. GALLAUDET.

AEROHYDROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1914.

1,165,??& Patented Dc.28,1915.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 2 In ventor:

outrun were rnrnnr orrron.

nnson F. GALLAUDET, or NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

AEROHYDRQPLA NE.

Application filed February 17,1914. Serial No. 819,148.

To all whom; it'may concern Be it lmown that I, EDsoN F. GALLAUDETI;

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the town of Norwich, county of New Londonfand State of Connecticut, have in- Vented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerohydroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to aerohydroplanes; that is to say, to machines which areadapted both to alight upon and plane over the surface of a body of water and to arise therefrom and fiyin the air.

The object of the invention is to provide a combined flying machine and hydroplane,

which is simple and strong in construction and which will afford a minimum of head resistance and at the same time provide a maximum of lateral stability both in the air and on the water.

With this object in view, one feature of my invention consists in mounting the body of the machine above, or substantially above, a pair of wings which are set at a dihedral angle so that the inner portions of the wings themselves shall serve as the supporting and planing surface of the machine when on the water. V

-Another feature consists in so framing and covering the wings, and particularly their inner portions, as to provide therein air and water-tight compartments which will support and give buoyancy to the machine when onthe water;

Still another feature consists in mounting the propellers above and somewhat forward of the rear or trailing edge of thewings to 'thereby'keep them from Contact with the water when the machine alights thereon and to protect them from the waves, especially,

in rough Weather, when the machine is in motion upon the water. Y

The invention also comprises certainother novel features of constructlon, ar-

rangenient, and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the ap ended claims.

-The principle of t e invention, and .the

best mode in' which I now contemplate applying that principle, will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the Q following description, taken in connection with the accompanymg drawings which form. a part of this specification and in Specification of Letters Patent.

Figure 1 is a plan view ofan aerohydro- Patented Dec. 28,1915.

plane embodying the several features of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a front, and Fig. 3 a side, elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 isth'e bodythe angle midway of their lengths to the lower longitudinal member or members of r the framework of the body, and a series of fore and aft ribs 7, of the usual or any suitable shape and construction. This framework is inclosed above and below with suitable surfacing material 8 8; preferably,

throughout the central or inner portions 9 9*.of the wing structure, with a thin, light metal sheeting which is riveted or otherwise secured to the top and bottom flanges of the spars and edges of the ribs, to form air and water-tight compartments. The fore and aft central compartment or compartments "of the. wing structure'serve, or may serve,

as a double bottom for the body as far aft as the rear transverse spar, from which point the bottom of the body, or tail portion of the body, preferably inclines upwardly- "and so gradually diverges from the downwardly inclined rear portion of the wing structure. The wings are trussed by transverse members or tie-bars 10 10 and 11 11 which aresecured centrally to the upper longitudinal member or members .of the framework of the body and at their outer ends each to one of the transverse wing spars and which preferably are made to conform to the wings in fore and aft section and areset, at substantially the same foreand aft angle, or angle of incidence, so as to offer a minimum head resistance and at the same time serve to some extent at least as auxiliary supporting surfaces. The propellers 12 12 are mounted, one on each side of the body, above the wing structure and somewhat forward of its rear or trailing' edge upon shafts which are j ournaled in suitable bearings provided for the purpose in or secured to the rear tie-bars" 11 11 and :are driven in any suitable manner; for ex ample, by driving shafts 13 13 which from within the body extend diagonally outward and to the rear and'are coupled to the two propeller shafts, respectively, by universal.

machine when at rest upon the water-and which, when its engine is started and the machine is in motion, will rise in and plane over thesurface of the water, or, when the required *speed is attained, will rise easily from the water into the air. The effect of setting the wings of a flying machine ata dihedral angle in securing the lateral stability of the machine is well known; and

this disposition of the wings in my aerohydroplane also secures its lateral stability 11110111116 water,'.since a tilting of the machine to either side so greatly increases the I area of contact of the wing with and consequently the displacement of the water on that side as to effectively check the movement I and restore the machine to normal horizontal position,' The use of the objectionable lateral pontoons heretofore required in machines of this class is thus rendered .unnecessary. It is also evident that by reason of their position the propellers will be kept from contact with the water when'the machine alights thereon, and little difliculty will be experiencedv therewith, even. in rough water, because of the protection afl'ordedby thewings.

While I have illustrated and described only one specific embodiment of my invention, it Wlll be understood that it, can be variously modified in-its several details, that mechanical equivalents can be substituted for its diflerent parts, and that one or more of its featurescan be-entirely omitted, without-departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

What-I claim as new,'and desire-to secure j by Letters Patent, is

v 1. In amachine of the character described, the combmation, with a body of streanl line form, of a pair of relatively narrow laterally extended dihedral -wings adapted both to float and laterally balance the machine upon water and to\ provide a planing surface therefor.

2. In a machine of the character described,-

the combination, with'a body of stream line form, of a pair of dihedral wings which provide flattened V-shaped planing surface beneath and substantially coincident with the bottom of the body and are adapted both to support the machine in the air and to support and float it upon water.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with an inclosed body of stream line form, of a pair of dihedral wings framed to the lower framework of the body and provided with a lower surfacecovering which forms below the body a flattened V- shaped surface adapted to float and plane the machine upon wateri 4. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a body, ofa pair of dihedral wings forming therewith a central hydroplane bottom for the machine and propelling means mounted and located above the wings intermediate their enteringand trailing edges. 7

5. In a machine of the character described,

the cembination, with a body, of a pair of dihedral wings forming therewith a hydroplane bottomforthe machine and ropellers mounted one on each side of and adjacent the body directly above the wings and below the level of their outer ends. v 6. In a machine of the character described,

the combination, with a .body of stream line \4 form, of a pair of dihedral wings which provide aflattenedV-shaped surface'below and substantially coincident with the bottom. of the body, and propellers which are mounted one on each side of the body above the wings and forward of their trailing edges.

7 In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a body, ,of relatively narrow laterally extending dihedral wings framed to the bottom of the body and trussed by narrower auxiliary supporting planes secured centrally to the top of the body.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a pisciform body, of dihedral wings the inner trailing portions of which are united below the body 'to form a planing surface adapted to raise the tail of I the body from the water when the machine is in motion thereon.- I p 9. In a machine of the character. described, the combination, with a pisciform body, of dihedral wings having a lower central surface substantlally coincident with the bottom of the body for the greater part of its'length fore and aft but gradually divergent therefrom froma point near and thence back to the trailing edge.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a framed and inclosed pisciform body, of framed dihedral wings having transverse frame members secured to a lower longitudinal frame member of the body and inclosed above and below to form water-tight compartments adjacent the body on each side, tie-members secured centrally to an upper longitudinal frame member of the body and at their outer ends to the transverse frame membersof'the wings, and propellers mounted upon the rear tie- -members above the wings and in front of their trailing edges.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a framed and inclosed pisciform body, of framed dihedral wings having transverse frame members secured to a lower longitudinal frame member of the-body and inclosed above and below to form water-tight compartments adjacent the body on each side, the lower surface covering of the wings being substantially coincident with the bottom of the body for the greater portion of its length fore and aft and gradually divergent therefrom from the rear transverse frame .member to the trailing edge. I

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a framed and inclosed pisciform body, of framed dihedral i low to form water-tight compartments adj awings having transverse frame members secured to a lower longitudinal frame member of the body and inclosed above and becent the body on each side, the lower surface covering of the wings being substantially coincident with the bottom of the body for the greater portion of its length fore and aft and gradually divergent therefrom from the rear transverse frame member back to the trailing'edge, tie-members secured centrally to an upper longitudinal frame member of the body and attheir outer ends to the transverse frame members of the wings,

and propellers mounted upon the rear tiemembers above the wings and in front of their trailing edges.

'13. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with a framed and i inclosed pisciform body, of framed dihedral wings havlng transverse frame members secured to a lower longitudinal frame member of the body and inclosed above and below to form water-tight compartments adjacent the body on each side, the lower surface covering of the wings being substan tially coincident with the bottom of the body for the greater portion of its length fore and aft and gradually divergent therefrom from the rear transverse frame member back to the trailing edge, tie-members secured centheir trailing edges.

- EDSON F. GALLAUDET.

Witnesses:

CHAS. L. THATOHER, lWAY F REVERT.

trally to an upper longitudinal frame mem- 

